Savery commits to Rice, which starts fall baseball

By: MIKE TENNEY, Sports Writer

Published 7:00 pm, Tuesday, October 21, 2003

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Lamar senior Joe Savery will be the fourth Redskin baseball player in five years to join the defending national champion Rice Owls after he made an verbal commitment last week to play baseball for Rice Coach Wayne Graham.

The young man who also doubles as the starting quarterback for the highly successful 6-1 Lamar football team says the reasons to play for a hometown team are obvious.

The main reason is I want to win and I want to be successful, says Savery. I dont think you can be any more successful than to be a national champion. ##M:(full story)## They also have great player development. A lot of good players have gone there and gotten a chance at professional baseball a few years later. Plus, its close to home. I wanted to go somewhere where my parents and my friends could come and watch me play. And its a great place to get an education as well, being one of the top schools in the country academically. It had everything I was looking for in a school.

Savery follows Hunter Brown, Nick Martin and Jeff Niemann as recent Lamar graduates who have gone on to play for the Owls.

Brown is presently playing in the Seattle Mariners minor league organization and Martin is a left-handed pitching prospect in the Chicago Cubs minor league organization. Niemann was a perfect 17-0 last year for the Owls.

I hope to have the same type of success that those people had, says Savery. I think it says something about the type of baseball program we have at Lamar.

Redskin baseball Coach Jorge Garza says the young man who will anchor his pitching staff this spring is something else.

Joes pretty special, says Garza. I put nothing past this young man. Hes a tough kid whos a lefty with an excellent arm. He can change speeds and he knows how to pitch. And not only is he an excellent pitcher, but hes a heck of a hitter whos an outstanding outfielder. Were very proud of Joe.

The Owls began their NCAA-allotted three-week fall baseball practice period last week and although he is allowed to attend and watch, Savery says theres been no time to do so.

I have not gotten down there, says Savery. It would be good to go watch them, but right now, school and football are taking the majority of my time. Im trying to take care of those two things right now.

The Owls began their fall workouts last Monday and go through next Friday.

Twelve returning lettermen along with 14 newcomers are presently in the workouts.

They return just three starters outfielder Chris Kolkhorst, outfielder Austin Davis and shortstop Paul Janish from last years team that went 58-12 and won the College World Series.

But the Owls are poised for another great season because they have their four top starting pitchers returning in Niemann, Wade Townsend, Philip Humber and Josh Baker. Those guys were a combined 47-5 last spring with Niemann and Baker (8-0) both finishing undefeated.

Strake Jesuit graduate Colin Matheny went 3-1 last year as a part-time starter and he could get a few more starts this season.

One place the Owls are looking for help is at reliever, because David Aardsma, who was the closer last year, is now in the San Francisco minor leagues.